The Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Serguei Lavrov, has been on a working and friendship visit to Burkina Faso since Tuesday 4 June. This visit is part of the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries, consolidated by the agreements reached at the 2nd Russia-Africa summit last year, the head of Russian diplomacy stressed.
During a working session with his Burkinabe counterpart Karamoko, Jean-Marie Traore, Lavrov expressed his gratitude for Burkina Faso’s “effective assistance,” enabling the reopening of the Russian embassy in Ouagadougou. “We are grateful for your effective help in finding solutions that have helped us to reopen our embassy in Ouagadougou. We are implementing a programme to resume the operation of Russian
diplomatic representations in Africa. Burkina Faso was the first country where we did this quickly and effectively,” he added.
The minister pointed out that “our relations have a positive history,” stressing that they are based on “mutual sympathy, trust and mutual respect.” “We maintain active contacts at all levels. In addition to the meetings of our presidents in St Petersburg last year, the head of Burkina Faso’s interim government, the president of its transitional legislative assembly and other officials and delegations have made working visits to Russia,” he said.
“The State Duma (the lower house of the Russian Federal Assembly) has a group dedicated to interaction with Burkina Faso and other African countries. Members of the State Duma Dmitri Savelyev and Alexey Chepa, who are present here, are actively working to implement the projects of the People’s Diplomacy Centre,” the Russian minister said.
He also mentioned the crucial role played by the NGO People’s Diplomacy Centre in setting up the Russian House in Burkina Faso, offering Russian language courses and promoting training for new members of the government and ministry staff. “I am convinced that our talks today and tomorrow will help us to deepen the tasks set by our
presidents in June 2023 in St Petersburg, and will also give new impetus to the friendly ties between Russia and Burkina Faso,” he concluded.
Since Ibrahim Traor” came to power following a military takeover against Paul-Henri Damiba in September 2022, Burkina Faso has strengthened its relations with Russia against a backdrop of deteriorating diplomatic ties with France.
AC/fss/APA